So friends – it’s taken since the latter part of 1980s until 2019 for anyone to take the very brave step of setting up a pressing plant here and we have decided to get right behind the guys at HOLIDAY RECORDS and give them the business on my latest album entitled HAPPY ISLES.
Here is the track listing for the vinyl album which is being pressed right now. Track 3 is a version of Albatross for 2019
Side 11) Happy Isles
2) Colour of your Skin
3) AlbaSide 24) Ting Tong
5) Hamilton Dome
6) Whero
7) Green Man
8) Diamond Friday
As you can see from the playlist there’s only one song familiar. It’s the first song I ever wrote and has evolved greatly in the many years I have been playing it. Jan Bille produced it and he’s working with Ian McAllister on post production and getting it ready for pressing.
There is a saying “the more things change the more they stay the same” never a truer word especially regarding records – they are the ultimate archive. Digital is by comparison way less immediate and retrievable down the line. Historically records have increased in value. Downloads aren’t tactile and analogue will never die folks plus you get the big picture in its big picture sleeve.
The Happy Isles album is test press ready so this is a real thing and ready to go. Of all the songs one only is revised :Albatross.My first song! has evolved to a another level
“Colour of your Skin” deals with the fact that we are all the same colour under our various tones. Green man is not about a trivial thing. I mean we gotta learn to face each other in real life and not once removed on a tiny “hopeless little screen” to quote Lenny.
Having Jan Bille as producer helped get me back on my horse. I had got obsessed with developing guitar styles and he reminded me to concentrate more on writing now the music is developed for the new sound. This new album involved months working on something that turns out to be a big wide sky ; the discovery of a mystical soundscape. It’s gonna be a production classic. Good songs help too! Ha ha.
There is an old saying that everybody gets out of the way if you know where you are going.
It started with Jan believing in me and putting me thru “bootcamp” and revealing to me things in my character that i needed to work on. William Blake said that “opposition is true friendship”
Jan gave me a hard time and when i fought back he congratulated me observing that my will to fight was back… a will to live and let live and the courage to take risks.
He pulled me back from the edge. I was going nowhere and I think he sensed it and did his best to wake me up. Like a passenger shaking a sleepy driver so they don’t take a detour down the mountain.
We stumbled on this big blue sky sound. Jan and Ian are truely great people and it’s a pleasure to work with them.
Auckland concert coming up at Ellen Melville Theatre on 17th of November. An early booking helps with planning. Please consider a presale deal for the record/cd and call me if you need live music at yours 021 0259 2919
Keep it simple I am happy to help you if you are happy to help me – how does that sound?
Concert Ticket $20 (NZD)Or check the Tickets page if you want to buy more than 1 ticket online…
Many thanks to those who donated for the first progress payment which got us to first base. Lets keep going so we can have an actual record for the first time since 1986. If you would like help this album get finished and released. Pre order sales for Vinyl /CD that would be a big help.
*Vinyl $40 (NZD) Keen on new Vinyl depending on scale prices up to $50 – conditions apply. Formats are tricky and volumes are needed to make this work. You will get a download of the new album when it is ready. We think in February. We are still working out logistics but this is a limited edition pressing. Packaging and posting for a vinyl album costs from $12-20 and so we are working on ways to lower or eliminate that cost. We expect some stores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will also have the vinyl in stock but more news to come on that soon.
When released we will redirect to the buy button on bandcamp as we will need addresses for delivery and so on.
It is Lloyd mate.. We had Pizza I think in Ponsenby. You had a guy playing the banjo. Do you remember me. And I paid for pizza for the whole restaurant.
will this new album be in the form of vinyl records?
That is the plan although file downloads will be available and the intention is to include CD’s also.
Note: (The pic is Jason who replied on behalf of Luke)